Tapeworm infection
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tapeworm infestation | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| ICD-10 | B67.-B71. |
| ICD-9 | 122-123 |
| DiseasesDB | 12875 |
| eMedicine | emerg/567 |
| MeSH | D002590 |
Tapeworm infestation is the infection of the digestive tract by adult parasitic flatworms called cestodes or tapeworms. Live tapeworm larvae are sometimes ingested by consuming undercooked food. Once inside the digestive tract, a larva can grow into a very large adult tapeworm. Additionally, many tapeworm larvae cause symptoms in an intermediate host. For example, cysticercosis is a disease of humans involving larval tapeworms in the human body.
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[edit] Common types
Among the most common tapeworms in humans are the pork tapeworm (T. solium), the beef tapeworm (T. saginata), the fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium spp.), and the dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepis spp.). Infections involving the pork and beef tapeworms are also called taeniasis. Tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus also infect animals and humans, and cause the most harm to intermediate hosts such as sheep and cattle. Infection with this type of tapeworm is referred to as Echinococcosis or hydatid disease. Symptoms vary widely, as do treatment options, and these issues are discussed in detail in the individual articles on each worm. With a few notable exceptions like the fish tapeworm, most cestodes that infect humans and livestock are cyclophyllids, and can be identified as such by the presence of four suckers on their scolex or head.
[edit] Occurrence
Most occurrences are found in areas which lack adequate sanitation and include Southeast Asia and East Africa.[1]
[edit] Symptoms
According to The Merck Manual, Tapeworm infestation does not usually cause any symptoms. Infection is generally recognized when the infected person passes segments of proglottids in the stool (looks like white worms), especially if a segment is moving. Some report abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Anemia may develop in people with the fish tapeworm.
Rarely, worms may cause obstruction of the intestine. And very rarely, T. solium larvae can migrate to the brain causing severe headaches, seizures and other neurological problems. This condition is called cysticercosis. It can take years of development before the patient has those symptoms of the brain.
[edit] Treatment
According to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health; "Tapeworms are treated with medications taken by mouth, usually in a single dose. The drug of choice for tapeworm infections is niclosamide. Praziquantel and albendazole can also be used."
[edit] Transmission
[edit] Ingestion of eggs
Tapeworm eggs are generally ingested through food, water or soil contaminated with human or animal (host) feces. For example, if a pig is infected with a tapeworm, it may pass eggs or segments (proglottids) of the adult tapeworm through its feces into soil. Each segment contains thousands of microscopic tapeworm eggs. One can then ingest these eggs by eating food contaminated with the feces. Once one consumes the eggs, they develop into larvae, which can migrate out of one's intestines and form cysts in other tissues such as your lungs or liver. This type of infection is not common with beef or fish tapeworms, but can occur with the pork tapeworm — called cysticercosis — and can also occur with dog and sheep tapeworms — called echinococcosis.
[edit] Ingestion of larvae cysts in meat or muscle tissue
You can also get a tapeworm infection by eating raw or undercooked meat from an animal or a fish that has the larval form of the tapeworm cysts in its muscle tissue. Once you ingest them, the larvae then develop into adult tapeworms in your intestines. Adult tapeworms can measure up to 50 feet long and can survive as long as 20 years. Some tapeworms attach themselves to the walls of the intestine, where they cause irritation or mild inflammation, while others may pass through to your stool and exit your body. Unlike other tapeworms, the dwarf tapeworm can complete its entire life cycle — egg to larva to adult tapeworm — in one host. This is the most common tapeworm infection in the world and can be transmitted between humans. While being treated for certain tapeworm infections, you can reinfect yourself by ingesting tapeworm eggs shed by the adult worm into your stool. That's why you should take care to wash your hands after using the toilet.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Taeniasis - by A.D.A.M., Inc.
- Tapeworm Infection - Health in Plain English (with pictures)
- Taenia spp., tapeworm, causative agent of cysticercosis/taenosis: life cycle, health implications at MetaPathogen
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